Taking a look at the (huge) map and getting a bit overwhelmed about selecting the best places to go to in Brazil? Do not stress, we're here to assist you to make the most out of your journey and offer you the best tips to enjoy Brazil like a local. I'm Brazilian and I'm about to share all my favourite aspects of my nation. From drinking caipirinha at the beach in Rio, to checking out a national forest full of beautiful blue lagoons in the north or helping to save turtles in the south, Brazil has an alternative for every type of backpacker.
From north to south, you're going to discover something incredible to do in every corner of the nation and I guarantee you'll be amazed by how varied Brazil is. Go with an open heart, listen and speak to the residents-- there is no better method to get to know our culture.
The beaches in the north of the island are more touristy and have numerous popular clubs, so things can get a bit more expensive. I 'd suggest that you check out Praia da Lagoinha, Praia do Forte, Praia da Daniela, Praia Brava and Praia dos Ingleses. The east side of the island has a remarkable backpacker vibe and is a fantastic area for surfing. My favourite beaches there are Joaquina, Praia Mole, Praia da Galheta and Barra da Lagoa. This is likewise the backpacker hotspot of the city, where you'll find people from all over the world, incredibly cool bars and restaurants and people offering their art in the street.
If you're looking for some quiet time surrounded by nature, the south of the island is where you want to be. We're talking unblemished beaches, a few of them only available by travelling, like Praia dos Naufragados. If you want to mingle with the residents, you should try the walking to Lagoinha do Leste, among the most famous treking routes in the south of Brazil. There are three different alternatives with different levels of problem, the most convenient one taking control of an hour. You won't be sorry for the views when you arrive though!
Ouro Preto is one of the best locations to check out in Brazil for anyone who wants to comprehend the country ´ s history. The city's name translates to 'Black Gold' in English, since it was the centre of the gold enter the 18th century. Nowadays, you can still experience the city's past through its architecture and the art of the amazing Brazilian sculptor Aleijadinho. You can check out all the piece de resistances on foot, and just walking appreciating the scenery is really among the very best things you can do. The main attractions in Ouro Preto are the old mines from the colonial period, where you can take a trip to become aware of how tons of ores and precious stones were drawn out and reclaimed to Europe, and how servant work was used for this.
The city also has lots of museums where you can start to understand more about the history of the country. At Inconfidence Museum you can discover Brazil's self-reliance, and if you're interested in Brazilian art, you ought to have a look at the Spiritual Art Museum. A great place to see Aleijadinho's work is São Francisco de Assis church, where you can find lots of sculptures made by the artist.
Among the coolest things you can do in Ouro Preto is look for a university party. They're incredibly open and accept trainees from all over the world. All you need to do is go to the student neighbourhood Baixita and ask where the celebration will take place. You can actually knock at one of the fraternity's doors and ask. If you're visiting during Carnival, even much better-- there will be A LOT OF trainee parties you can join.Start your adventure walking around Vila Madalena, a stylish area loaded with nice cafes, dining establishments and classic stores. On Saturdays, you can visit Feira Livre da Vila Madalena, a viajar pelo brasil street market with arts and crafts, loads of fruits and veggies and amazing street food. For an authentic Brazilian experience, attempt a pastel (a scrumptious savoury treat) with a sugar cane juice. After getting all the energy you need, head to Beco do Batman, a well-known area in the city for street art fans.
If you enjoy art, check out the Museum of Art of São Paulo at Avenida Paulista. You're going to see the building quite quickly from a range because of its fantastic architecture design and you can get lost inside for hours.
After checking out the museum, head to Bixiga, among the most conventional areas in the city that has lots of terrific pizzerias. Speaking of pizza, you MUST SHOT Brazilian pizza. Forget everything you believed you learnt about the traditional Italian food and open yourself to a whole brand-new level of nonsense. I am speaking about ice cream pizza and I'm not even sorry.
By this point, you've probably seen that São Paulo is a terrific place to walk and eat delicious food, so if you're not veggie, head to Mercado Municipal to attempt an ENORMOUS mortadella sandwich. After all this consuming, have a walk in Ibirapuera park and go to the Afro Museum, a space committed to informing the story of more than five centuries of African history in Brazil.
For an incredible sunset and to join the residents, go to Praça do Pôr do Sol (it actually indicates the sunset park) for one of the most lovely views of the city.Still in the historic centre, check out Largo Tereiro de Jesus, a place full of lovely churches, dining establishments and remarkable architecture. Visit the Afro Museum for more information about Afro religions in Brazil, and Casa do Carnaval da Bahia to get to know the history of Carnival in the city. Still around this location, inspect the Lacerda Lift. Built in 1873, this is the most convenient (and most affordable) method to get to the high part of the city. When you're at the top, Tomé de Sousa square is a stunning viewpoint and best location to watch the sundown.
If you wish to buy affordable and genuine mementos for your enjoyed ones back home, check out Mercado Modelo. This public market has been working for more than 100 years and has more than 250 stalls selling art and food.Now, prepare for an incredible story. Bonfim Church was constructed in between 1745 and 1772, and nowadays is the centre of a beautiful multi-faith celebration that takes place in Salvador every year in January. On this day, around 200 ladies worn white walk a trip of 8km to clean the stairs of the church with water and flowers, while the locals commemorate with music and chants of African origin. This is a stunning ritual to see and you must think about going to Salvador during this time. And let's not ignore the Senhor do Fim ribbon, a tradition which includes putting a colourful ribbon on someone's wrist and asking them to make 3 wishes. You make one knot for each desire, and when the ribbon falls off on its own, all these dreams will come to life. This tradition becomes part of the Festa do Bonfim (Bonfim Party), however you can find these ribbons throughout the year in most cities in Brazil.
Together with Pelourinho, Barra Lighthouse is among the most famous postcard pictures of Salvador. The lighthouse was integrated in the 17th century and nowadays is a museum. Just in front of the lighthouse, there's a lovely beach for you to walk around and see the sunset.
How can we not speak about food? Food from Bahia is incredible, and you can't leave the city without attempting an Acarajé! It's a gorgeous mix of beans, shrimp, onion, salt and pepper-- entirely and fried in palm oil. It's the most traditional food of the city and you can discover the best ones in Largo da Dinha.Galeria 13 hostel is a terrific base for your Salvador adventure. They have a pool, breakfast till 12pm, happy hours with caipirinhas, Brazilian film nights and a friendly pet dog. They're likewise located in the historical centre, which will make your day of checking out much easier.If you have a little bit more time in Recife, you need to consider spending a day in Olinda, a popular historical city with remarkable Carnival parties and blocks. It's so near to Recife that some individuals get confused and think it's the same city. Check out the historical centre and its vibrant colonial homes on foot, before heading to Alto da Sé, a place with a fantastic view of the city and markets selling food and art.The most well-known destination in Olinda is the Carnival and its huge dolls parade. They say everything began in 1931, when a very handsome male used to walk around at midnight. After a long time, he ended up being well known (The Midnight Guy) and all the single women in the city would await him every night. After a few years, a giant doll of him was developed and an enormous carnival parade with him leading the way to other huge dolls became a tradition. Today the parade still follows the exact same path as the mysterious male! Viewing the Giant Carnival Dolls of Olinda is a genuinely magical experience and you're going to be surprised by the energy in the streets throughout Brazilian Carnival.